Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Special Launch Promotion Includes Free Download Of The First Episode of BLUE DRAGON on iTunes Through March 10, 2009

San Francisco, CA, February 24, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced today the availability of its popular animated series BLUE DRAGON on the iTunes® Store (www.iTunes.com) in US and Canada. As a special launch promotion, the first episode of BLUE DRAGON will be available for download for free on the iTunes Store until March 10th and can be found at www.itunes.com/tv/bluedragon.

BLUE DRAGON animated series, based on the popular Xbox 360 role playing game (RPG), is a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!

The Xbox 360 game “BLUE DRAGON” was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of Final Fantasy). The game and animated series feature memorable characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (also published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine). The animated series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot, which is well known for its work on NARUTO and BLEACH, also licensed by VIZ Media and available on iTunes.

"We are excited to add the beloved BLUE DRAGON animation to the growing library of VIZ Media titles now available on the iTunes store.” says Ken Sasaki, Sr. Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, VIZ Media. “VIZ Media is committed to giving fans the best in animated entertainment and we are thrilled to provide the best options in delivering exciting animated content in a high quality digital way.”

For more information on BLUE DRAGON please visit the dedicated website at Bluedragon.viz.com, which currently features anime series trailers, character descriptions, artwork from the animation, and a news section that will be updated regularly with announcements regarding the anime series.

About VIZ Media, LLC Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

GRIMES, IA, February 11, 2009 – Anime producer, distributor and online retailer Right Stuf, Inc. asks anime fans “What kinds of Otaku are you?” as it kicks off the “Year of the OTAKU,” a new, ongoing program that celebrates what it means to be an anime fan with contests, downloads and more at otaku.rightstuf.com (http://otaku.rightstuf.com).

“Inside every fan, you’ll find many different Otaku: likes and differences that make us individuals, plus a love of anime and manga that brings us together. We don’t fit a single mold – We break it! What kinds of Otaku are you?"

Anime and manga fans are distinctive, as a fanbase, said Right Stuf President and C.E.O. Shawne Kleckner. “While you’re part of a larger group – people who enjoy and admire Japanese animation – there is also a tremendous amount of diversity and individuality. No two anime fans are exactly alike, and we think this is something that should be embraced and celebrated. In this sense, a single fan can be an ‘action-romance-mecha-comedy Otaku’ -- or whatever other individually-specific mix reflects his or her unique interests.”

The launch page includes a contest, with a $100 gift certificate to RightStuf.com as its grand prize, as well as the first two “featured Otaku” – the Ninja Otaku and the Kawaii Otaku. New Otaku (and more content and contests) will be added to the page throughout the year.

Visit otaku.rightstuf.com for more information, plus the first round of contests and downloads.

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.Currently celebrating its 21st year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation ("anime") industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us and ARIA, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

Monday, February 9, 2009

YES, YOU HEARD RIGHT…. If you did not attend New York Comic-Con this past week – then you might have missed this exciting announcement that was made at the VIZ Media Panel on Sunday…

VIZ Media and one of its parent companies – Japanese publishing giant Shogakukan – have announced a BRAND NEW series set to debut from Rumiko Takahashi, one of today’s greatest manga creators.

This is the first new original manga series from Takahashi sensei since her epic INUYASHA series ended in 2008. Shogakukan’s popular WEEKLY SHONEN SUNDAY manga magazine, which has featured Takahashi’s work since the early 1980’s, will be debuting the new series and VIZ Media will be publishing the manga series later in 2009!

With over 170 million copies sold in Japan alone, Rumiko Takahashi's various works continue to be loved by a multitude of readers, regardless of their age or gender. Takahashi's works, full of wonderfully endearing characters that readers are drawn to, combine the various elements of comedy, love, fantasy, and martial arts, and continue to create truly unique worlds. Her works cannot be categorized by standard genres, and the signature style she has created has come to be known as the "Rumic World." It would not be an overstatement to call the "Rumic World" a genre of its own.

In addition to INUYASHA, which spanned more than 500 chapters and 50 individual volumes, some of Rumiko Takahashi’s other notable works include RANMA ½, MAISON IKKOKU, MERMAID SAGA, ONE POUND GOSPEL and, URUSEI YATSURA (THE RETURN OF LUM). All of these titles are published in North America by VIZ Media. Several of these series, including URUSEI YATSURA, MAISON IKKOKU, RANMA ½ and INUYASHA have also been adapted into highly successful animated television series and feature film releases. Rumiko Takahashi has won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award twice, first for URUSEI YATSURA in 1981 and again in 2002 for INUYASHA.

VIZ Media is so excited to be publishing Rumiko Takahashi’s next great series and to bring you this news, but…. we don’t want to give it all away just yet, we just wanted to share a tidbit of exciting news for 2009 – so be sure to keep an eye out and ear open for more details, which we will be sharing with you soon!

In the meantime please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to explore any of Rumiko Takahashi’s other series mentioned here …you know…to get you prepped of this upcoming New Series!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Leading Publishing Sales Indicator Summarizes Last Year’s Top Selling Titles And Features Multiple VIZ Media Titles Occupying 15 Of The Top 20 Spots

San Francisco, CA, February 4, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced that hit manga (graphic novel) properties including NARUTO, DEATH NOTE, BLEACH and VAMPIRE KNIGHT dominated 15 of the Top 20 spots on the recently released list of Top 20 Graphic Novels for 2008. Nielsen BookScan, one of the publishing industry’s leading sales indicators, publishes the list annually.

NARUTO was the top VIZ Media manga title on the list, placing highest at Number 2 overall with nine volumes of the internationally popular series placing in the Top 20 at #’s 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16 and 18. This is the first time so many volumes of a single series have dominated this particular list. Three other VIZ Media manga titles made the top 20 as well: DEATH NOTE (with three spots at #9, 12 and 19), BLEACH (at #17), and the gothic melodrama VAMPIRE KNIGHT (securing two spots at #14 and 20) joined NARUTO in the Top 20.

“It’s very gratifying to see such continued strong sales of these top titles throughout 2008,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Product Marketing, VIZ Media. “Six of the Top 10 graphic novels featured on the 2007 list were also NARUTO volumes, and with the launch of the new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN story arc last year we’re very pleased to see the series continuing to dominate the list. Likewise, we are also very excited to see other unique manga titles like DEATH NOTE, BLEACH and VAMPIRE KNIGHT featured among the Top 20. Each of these series is critically acclaimed and holds a wide appeal that transcends multiple reader demographics. As we begin 2009, we look forward to a variety of VIZ Media manga continuing to find such a loyal and sizable domestic audience.”

Please visit http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/14161.html for the full list of Top 20 BookScan Graphic Novels.

Source: Nielsen BookScan 1/2009About VIZ Media, LLC Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

There is a registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security. It contains a key called "OutlookSecureTempFolder "Follow that string with windows explorer inside that folder is all the images. delete the contents of the folder.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Zany Comedy About A High School Boy And Two Sexy Classmates Inspired By A Popular Manga Series

San Francisco, CA, FEBRUARY 3, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will expand its library of animated properties with the eagerly awaited debut of I”s as a special two-disc DVD box set with an estimated street date of March 24th.

I”s is based on a popular manga series (Rated ‘M” for mature audiences) by Masakazu Katsura, published domestically by VIZ Media under its Shonen Jump Advanced imprint. The original I”s animated series, as well as a six-episode follow-up called I”s PURE, will be included this new DVD box set (rated “M” for Mature audiences) and carries an SRP of $29.98 US/$39.99 CAN.

Iori Hazuki is a beautiful high school girl with ambitions of becoming a model and actress. Ichitaka Seto is an indecisive sixteen year-old boy with a mad crush on Iori. Things become more complicated for Ichitaka when a childhood friend named Itsuki returns from living in the United States and ends up living at his house – and Itsuki is far from the shy and homely young girl Ichitaka remembers. Ichitaka must now reconcile his feelings for each girl and work hard to make sure that his angst-riddled personal life doesn't become any more dramatic. Put all three “I”s together and you have a tale of love, comedy, and dreams!

In I”s PURE, hapless Ichitaka continues to face endless obstacles that include pranks, misunderstandings, stalkers, and a romantic intervention as he continues to try and win the heart of his classmate and budding actress Iori. But most of all, Ichitaka tries to remain true to his feelings. Are these two "I"s destined to find happiness together, or does fate have other ideas?

Widely known in anime circles as the character designer for IRIA: ZEIRAM THE ANIMATION, a Science Fiction series about a sexy female bounty hunter, I”s creator Masakazu Katsura is also a popular manga artist celebrated for the buxom beauties and madcap stories that are a focal point of his work. His best-selling series VIDEO GIRL AI is also published domestically by VIZ Media.

“This zany and often unexpectedly sweet romantic comedy, understandably celebrated by fans of the original I”s manga, plays out wonderfully in this special 2-disc DVD box set,” says Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President Sales & Product Marketing. “Creator Masakazu Katsura's quirky sense of humor and penchant for drawing appealing young ladies will make I”s a unique favorite. We look forward to fans of the manga exploring this new DVD box set and encourage audiences that have yet to discover the humor and fun of I”s to check out both the manga and the anime series from VIZ Media!”